Should You Get Pot Drawers Or Pull-Out Cabinets In Your Kitchen?

Can we all agree that lower cabinets are a pain? It's hard to find or reach anything in the back, often requiring you to pull out half the stuff in your cabinet just to get to what you need. If you're looking for a solution to make your life easier, you may be considering adding pot drawers or pull-out cabinets to your kitchen. Which one you should choose will depend on a few factors.

First, are you retrofitting an existing kitchen or fully replacing your cabinets? Putting drawers into an existing lower cabinet would require much more work than simply adding some off-the-shelf pull-outs. So keep this in mind when doing your research. Second, what is your budget? Drawers are typically less expensive than regular cabinets. Pull-outs come in at a wide variety of price points, from costly custom-made pieces to cheap after-market solutions you can buy online. You can also DIY drawers and pull-out shelves for your cabinets. Although, it may take more advanced woodworking skills than installing a store-bought option. Third, ask yourself what you want to store in this space. Pot drawers and pull-outs cabinets have their own strengths and weaknesses for different uses, and which one works best may depend on how you plan to use it. 

There's plenty to love about a deep, wide drawer. They offer greater accessibility than cabinets, helping you easily reach your items. Plus, they allow you to see what's in them at a glance and without opening any cabinet doors first, unlike pull-out shelves — though pull-outs may offer even better visibility from all sides. Stackable organizers and dividers can help you get the most out of your deep kitchen drawers. So, if you want to store something that could tip over (such as a blender), or really love organization, a drawer might be a better solution. 

However, weight is one concern when using pot drawers. There's a weight limit, so storing lots of heavy pottery or appliances in them may not be feasible. Typically, these drawers do not come any bigger than 36 inches across because they would begin to sag if they were any wider.  Additionally, pot drawers inherently have fixed heights, so if you find yourself with something new to store that does not fit in your drawer, you may have a problem. And while you can certainly buy deeper drawers, if they get too deep, you may find it hard to get to what is at the bottom, ultimately leaving you back where you started with cabinets.

One of the main points in the pro column for pull-out cabinets is their versatility. Pull-out shelves come in a wide array of options, such as sliding kitchen drawers that are easy to install or fully custom options that are built by a carpenter. Consequently, pull-out shelf options can be cost effective, and easily added to existing cabinets. Options range from $49.99 for a two-pack of DEKAVA's Expandable Pull Out Organizers to $126.99 for a higher end Rev-A-Shelf 2 Tier Kitchen Cabinet Pullout Shelf. In other words, there is an option for most budgets. 

Custom-built pull-outs typically use the available space more efficiently, as after-market options are often more narrow to ensure they can clear cabinet doors and hinges when pulled out. So, if using every square inch of space is important, a drawer or custom build may be in order. However, pull-out cabinets can be installed in more places, such as under sinks or in hard-to-reach corner cabinets. Pull-out shelves can also be installed at adjustable heights, making them more customizable to your specific needs, especially if you build your own DIY solution to your cabinet's dimensions. 

So, as we said before, it's important to know what you want to store, as your blender can be too tall for a pull-out shelf and your kitchen mixer too heavy for a drawer. Ultimately, it may not be an either/or answer. Using a combination of pot drawers and pull-out shelves where they make the most sense can be a great option.